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Title of collection: Dialectic Society Records (#40152), University
Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Title of document: Junior Speech of Elijah Benton Withers for the
Dialectic Society, 1858: "Are the Classics Worthy of the
Attention They Receive in our Modern Colleges?"

Author: E. B. Withers

Description: 11 pages, 11 page images

Note:
Call number 40152 (University Archives, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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Junior Speech of Elijah Benton
Withers for the Dialectic Society, 1858: "Are the
Classics Worthy of the Attention They Receive in our Modern Colleges?"

Withers, Elijah Benton

[Cover] page

Junior Speech ofE. B. Withers of
1858Question Are the classics worthy of the attention they receive in
our modern colleges

Page [1]

The History of Language, in as much as it developes the efforts of the human
genius and the rise and advancement of its inventions, constitutes an important
part of the history of man. In order that we may have a correct knowledge of the
one, we must become acquainted with the other: How are we to become acquainted
with either, unless it be through the means afforded by the study of the ancient
languages.

The questions then arise: are the ancient languages worthy of the attention they
receive in our modern Colleges and will the Student ever be compensated for the
time bestowed upon them. These are simple yet important questions. Since they so
vitally affect the cause of Education, the most important of all other subjects
to the American youth, and one in which the fate of the American Republic itself
is deeply concerned.

I hope to be able to prove that the student will not only be fully compensated
for the time spent in studying these languages

Page [2]

and
that the student could not employ his time in a more profitable manner, but that
a knowledge of these languages is absolutely necessary in order that we may have
a correct knowledge of our own, for the ancient languages are the very base of
the modern tongue. the source whence flows all modern languages. the great
fountain head from which the various streams of the modern tongue originated:
They are emphatically the languages of philosophy and modern sciences.

It is here that we find the most perfect models of history, poetry and eloquence
and they can be consulted only by the classical Scholar, for who will say that
any translations are correct, that they preserve the beauty as well the purity
of its author, that the niceties of style are preserved, and that we can express
so vividly by whole lines what the original author did by single words. Besides
as long as any one confines his studies solely to his native tongue he cannot
understand it perfectly or ascertain

Page [3]

with accuracy
its beauties or defects, its poverty or richness, but he, who cultivates other
languages besides his own, gains new instruments to increase the stock of his
ideas, and opens new roads to the temple of knowledge. he draws his learning
from purer sources, converses with with the natives of other times, and surveys
the contents of books without the dim and unsteady light translations. Moreover
in order that the true sense of a words may be ascertained and that they may
strike with their whole force, derivation must lend its aid to definition, it is
this which points out the source whence a word springs and the various streams
of significations that flow from it. Besides anyone, who wishes to be a perfect
master of the Bible, must be more or less familiar with the Greek Language, for
it is the language of the New Testament, the language which Christ spoke, and Paul
preached, and if our Divines were better versed in the idioms and constructions
of the Greek language, we

Page [4]

would witness more
unanimity in our different religious denominations and have fewer books filling
the shelves of our libraries with discussions on the meaning of simple passages
in the bible. Many descriptions in the old and new testament are absolutely
unintilligible, unless we have a knowledge of the customs and manners of the
ancients, and we have no means of acquiring this knowledge except through the
Greeks.

It is true that the walls of Rome have crumbled into the dust and that her present inhabitants are
unworthy of the name of their ancestors, yet She still influences the whole
civilized world through her laws, for the Romans are the authors of Civil law,
no other people have ever carried the law to higher perfection, and the American
Lawyer is still proud to be instructed in the nice distinction of private rights
by Roman Laws. Besides we have retained innumerable technical phrases in our own
laws derived only from the Roman

Page [5]

We cannot
correctly understand these phrases nor their laws unless we study the language
in which they were originally written.

Let us now consider some of the many objections which have been urged against the
study of these languages. It has been said that they are retained in our present
course of instruction, not that they are worthy of the attention they received
but because the world is such a slave to old ideas, that she will not permit the
advocates of a reformation in our course of instruction, to substitute other
studies their stead. Such has ever been the cry of innovators, when they fail in
their plans, but if they cannot convince mankind of the propriety of their
suggestions, after stating the benefits to be derived from them, we are
compelled to conclude that their is either faulty or that they are unable to
place it in its true light before the people.

And in the case before us we see that their plan has been tried and it has most
signally failed, for the modern languages in connection

Page [6]

with the scientific studies now compose a regular course of
instruction in our modern colleges. yet they have failed to meet with the
success confidently claimed for them by its advocates. and besides this, the very
few, who take this course, do it not from any preference but because they are
unable to gain the regular classes or have too little energy to exert themselves
as much as is required, in order to take a respectable stand in their class.

But it has been said that the study of these languages, narrows and contracts the
mind, renders it incapable of great efforts and great ideas and incapacitates it
for enlarged views. An argument more remarkable for its originality than for any
serious objections against the study of these languages, for the Modern
Languages are immediately substituted by the Gentleman as infallible remedies
for these defects, yet we know that they are only a corruption of these
languages and require much less exertion on the students part

Page [7]

to master them and they are decidedly inferior to
the ancient languages in beauty of style, fertility of thought and in the field
of imagination.

But it has been urged against the study of these languages, that those who spoke
them were heathens, men ignorant of God, but by the study of these languages we see the
folly of their Gods and we are enabled to comprehend more clearly the
superiority and omnipotence of our own, and moreover every piece of immoral
tendency is carefully excluded from our text books.

But have we not atheists in our own language. Men born in a country blessed with
the light of the Christian religion, who deny the existence of God and attempt to prove the
truth of their assertions by quoting isolated passages of the scriptures without
giving the connection and who disseminate their ruinous principles throughout
the country in books printed in the only English language. and the men, who
write these books are men of character and influence.

Page [8]

So we might with more than equal propriety say that we must not
study the English language because forsooth it has produced atheists.

But the cry is "we want practicable men and Education and that the
advantages derived from the study of these languages, are, comparatively
speaking, of no value. but is it worth nothing to be a highly accomplished and
refined scholar. if it is 'tis (and I presume that none will deny) so much is it
worth to know the classics for by learning these, we most effectually master our
own. Besides the stability of our Republic depends more upon the enlightment
of its citizens than upon its wealthy but ignorant misers and Gold seekers. Nor
does they study of these languages in any way prevent a man from being an
accomplished one in all the affairs of life.

But it has been seriously urged to day against the studies of these Languages that
we consult other authorities, such as our Lexicons and Grammars. but this
argument (if one which I most seriously doubt)

Page [9]

proves too much. for it proves the inutility of studying any thing, Mathematics,
classics, the sciences, and even our own Language, for we study them all by
refering to the rules and authorities of others. in truth what is the advantage
of studying at all, if we give our attention only to those studies in which we
are equals to any one. This argument needs only to be mentioned in order that we
may see and understand the fallacy of such reasoning.

After having carefully stated and fairly considered the merits and demerits of
this question. We must conclude that the study of the classics accomplishes
everything claimed for them and that the objections which have been urged are of
no importance whatever, for the gentlemen are unabled to substitute any studies
as equivalents and which are equivalents.

While by the study of the classics we know that the Judgement is exercised the
taste is refined, the mind is strenghten and trained to habits of accuracy and

Page [10]

untiring labor, knowledge is increased and
the memory is stored useful information. In conclusion let us adopt the advice
of Horace to the Pasocs
and if we do our Alma Mater may well be proud of her
children: